The latest corruption news from Iraq – company or government bribes, theft, stealing – brought to you by Iraq Business News
By John Lee. Transparency International has said that Iraq has risen slightly in its global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). From at total of 167 countries, Iraq came in at number 161, slightly better than last year’s position of 170 out of 175 countries, and tying with Libya. This result puts it ahead of countries such […]
By John Lee. A former U.S. Department of Defense contracting official has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving U.S. government contracts in Iraq. James Edward Addas, 55, of Stafford, Virginia, previously pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and tax evasion. According to admissions made in the […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has sacked the Minister for Trade, Mlas Mohammed Al-Kasanzan [Abdulkarim Malas al-Kasnazani] (pictured), for failing to show up for work. A statement from the Prime Minister's office said al-Kasnazani was dismissed because of his "absence ... from his duties as Minister of Commerce [i.e. Trade] for more than […]
By Simon Kent. Nine senior officials at Iraq's Grain Board have been relieved of their jobs, although no details of the dismissals have been reported. The Grain Board has a critical responsibility for procuring grain imports, strategically vital for feeding a country with a growing population and an agricultural sector threatened by acute drought. The […]
By John Lee. Iraq's acting trade minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has reportedly sacked the head of the powerful Grain Board of Iraq and six other officials over allegations of corruption. Reuters quotes ministry sources as saying that the move was part of a comprehensive operation intended to "cleanse the ministry of officials who have any hint […]
By John Lee. A Baghdad court has sentenced former environment minister Sargon Lazar Slewa [Sargon Lazon Sliwah, Karkis Sleiwa] (pictured) to two years in prison on charges of corruption. A judicial spokesman told Reuters that Slewa, a Assyrian Christian who served in former premier Nuri al-Maliki's government, was taken into custody following the ruling and fined […]
By John Lee. According to a report from Shafaaq, an Iraqi Trade Ministry media adviser, who was killed last month by a bomb attached to his car, had been about to hand over files accusing the ministry of corruption to the country's Integrity Commission. The Central Investigating Court said in a statement that four security […]
By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Doctors in Iraq are fleeing threats on their lives and extortion attempts, adding even more danger to a country battling the Islamic State (IS). In the news and on social media, pictures are surfacing […]
By John Lee. An arrest warrant has been issued for the Iraqi Trade Minister, Malas Abdulkarim al-Kasnazani (pictured), and his brother, on charges of financial corruption. According to the report from AFP no details on the accusations have been issued, but local media said the Minister is suspected of awarding contracts without tenders to firms […]
This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Less Corruption, Less Money: In Iraq, Religious Construction Faster, More Efficient Than Government Projects Tourists coming to visit Karbala and Najaf can stop at one of the “visitor cities” built […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Commission of Integrity has reportedly issued an arrest warrant for a number of Iraqi government officials, including the former minister of electricity Karim Aftan al-Jumaili, on corruption charges. Accoring to BasNews, former Member of Iraqi Parliament Odai Awad had previously accused al-Jumaili of 27 cases of corruption. Jumaili was appointed as Minister […]
By Wassim Bassem for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq’s government, society struggle with widespread bribery With shocking innocence, Ali al-Sultani from Babil, a city 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Baghdad, told Al-Monitor what he does to have official documents dealt with […]
